Abstract: A steerable micro-device comprising a cylindrical elongated member having a distal end and a proximal end, the elongated member comprising at least a first lumen, a tensioning wire running in the first lumen, a distal end of the tensioning wire being attached at the distal end of the elongated member and a proximal end of the tensioning wire exiting the first lumen at the proximal end of the elongated member; the elongated member having a proximal portion extending from the proximal end toward the distal end of the elongated member and a distal portion extending from the distal end to the proximal portion of the elongated member, the proximal portion having a first durometer and the distal portion having a second durometer, lower than the first durometer the first lumen being arranged such that the distal portion of the elongated body bends when the proximal end of the tensioning wire is pulled.

Abstract: A bell that rings when the entire rolling element bell is shaken, includes a base section having a recess, and a bell section that is supported directly or indirectly by the base section, a rolling element that is adapted to roll in the recess, the rolling element hitting the base section when the entire rolling element bell has been shaken, and the rolling element has rolled to reach an edge of the recess of the base section, and the rolling element bell being configured so that sound produced by the rolling element bell is adjusted by adjusting a contact angle or a contact height of the rolling element with an inner wall of the bell section.

Abstract: A ringing mechanism includes: a power source (12), a speed regulator (14), a ringing device, and a gear (10) connecting the power source (12) to the regulator (14) on the one hand and to the device on the other hand. The mechanism further includes a speed adjustor (16) and control element interacting with the speed adjustor (16) in order to change the driving speed of the ringing device.

Abstract: A bell is described having the first at least three or more frequencies substantially in harmonic sequence. A method for designing such a bell is also disclosed. An optimization procedure is described wherein an initial bell shape is modified until the first at least three or more frequencies are substantially in an harmonic sequence. An asymmetric bell is also described wherein a meridonal cross-section of the side portion is substantially geometrically similar to a cross-section having: 1) an outer line formed by fitting an arc of a circle to the three described points of the nodes and an inner line formed by fitting a line to the described points of the nodes; or 2) having an outer line formed by joining a straight line to the two described points of the nodes and an inner line formed by fitting a line to the described points of the nodes.

Abstract: An electroacoustic calling device comprising a piezoelectric transducer contained in a housing with an aperture therein through which sound is emitted. A closure member for controlling the size of the aperture, and hence the volume of emitted sound, is located in a recess in an arm pivotally mounted on the housing and is urged against the exterior surface of the housing by a projection at the bottom of the recess. The resulting essentially point contact between the closure member and the recess allows the surface of the closure member to align accurately with the surface of the housing, thereby minimizing leakage of sound between such surfaces.

Abstract: A volume control device suitable for installation on the ringer of a telephone incorporates a tone control lever having a damping element cantilevered therefrom and extending as a wing from a point of pivoting in a direction generally parallel to a frame of the ringer. The lever further comprises an arm bent through the frame to serve as a handle, and a leg extending in an opposite direction from the pivot for contacting a detent structure integrally formed with the frame. Also, integrally formed with the frame, are a ramp and a guide. The guide extends upwardly from the frame and then over a path of travel of an outer end of the wing for urging the wing downward so as to ensure passage of the wing underneath a rim of the gong during a rotation of the lever about the pivot.

Abstract: An improved bell is disclosed which features a clapper continuously adjustable for hardness of strike. The clapper comprises a hard inner member and a resilient outer member. The periphery of the clapper is circular but the hard inner member is not circular about the same center as the periphery so that the amount of resilient material between the solid inner core member and the periphery varies circumferentially around the clapper. At the time of manufacture of the bell it is tested to locate the point on the bell body at which "wow and flutter" in the tone emitted by the bell is minimized. A single insulated pin serves to orient the handle of the bell, the bell body and the plane of swing of the clapper. The attachment of the handle, the bell body and the clapper is such as to minimize extraneous noise. An elastomer clapper shaft is employed, and its effective flexing length may be varied.

Abstract: A clapper body individually mounts two striker turrets on opposite ends. Each striker turret carries individual striker heads and is angularly movable on a turret platform tilted sufficiently in the swing plane so that only the head closest the bell mouth is operative.

Abstract: An indexing mechanism for the volume control of a telephone bell comprises a slot and associated indexing notches which co-operate with a guide pin and an indexing pin respectively. Volume control is effected by forcing the indexing pin over one or more notches as desired. The volume setting is not easily altered by vibration of the instrument.

Abstract: A handbell including an improved clapper assembly that is adjustable with respect to the force required to cause it to swing into strike contact with the bell and is independently adjustable to vary the tonal quality of its strike, whereby a variety of affects, including raw and muted sounds, may be obtained from a given bell through manual adjustment of the clapper which is possible during the course of playing the bell. Additional improvements reside in the specific construction of the adjustments and the means for indexing the position of the bell handle with respect to the clapper assembly.